High power tube blocking condenser



Feb. 10, 1953 c. H. SCULLIN 2,628,328

HIGHPOWER TUBE BLOCKING CONDENSER Filed Dec. 22, 1950 INVENTOR c. scwu/zv.

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' :ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE HIGH POWER TUBE BLOCKING GONDENSER Carl H. Scullin, Florham Park, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,287

having appropriate portions or flanges transverse to the frusto-conical portion. This support plate is insulated from the anode by a glass bulb sealed to the anode and to the support plate amplifier circuits, it is difficult to find a suitable 5 near the outer periphery of said plate and procondenser, commonly called a blocking condenser, vides a short-low-inductance electrical connecfor use in the anode circuit of the amplifier or tionto the condenser plates from an external ciroscillator tube for the purpose of separating the cult, such as a plate-tank circuit. The vacuum direct current and radio frequency alternating within the tube provides the necessary no-loss current components. At the higher frequencies, dielectric medium and adequate electrical insufor instance 10 megacycles/sec., and higher, this lation between the condenser plates and the blocking condenser must carry the alternating anode.

current components of the plate current and in In its general aspect the present invention has addition the displacement currents which flow the objective of overcoming the defects of the through the output capacitance of the tube and prior art blocking condensers in the anode circuit socket. These currents, well known in the art, of an amplifieror oscillator tube.

represent the amount of electricity moved in an Specifically, an object of the present invention insulator when there is a Voltage difierence imis to provide a complete capacitor within an pressed upon opposite sides of the insulator and electron discharge device capable of resisting the at the frequencies under consideration are, for high direct current voltages impressed on the example, twenty to thirty amperes or more in anode.

magnitude. At the same time, the blocking con- Another and specific object of the present indenser must Withstand the alternating current vention is a complete capacitor within an elecvoltage drop across the condenser due to the above tron discharge device which can carry the high mentioned displacement currents flowing through frequency displacement Currents which flow it. In addition, the blocking condenser must also through the output capacitance of said discharge resist the direct current plate supply voltage withdevice.

out breaking down across the dielectric. A further object of the present invention is a For a given alternating current voltage as the complete capacitor within an electron discharge frequency increases the reactance of the blockdevice which provides a low inductance electrical ing condenser decreases and the displacement connection to an external circuit. currents through the condenser increase in mag- Again, an j t of the present inventifin is a nitude in direct proportion to the frequency incomplete capacitor within an electron discharge crease. Also at radio frequencies, the resistance device in close proximity to the anode which of the condenser due to the skin efiect on the provides high voltage external insulation from surface of the condenser increases with increase the anode. of frequency. Thus the internal losses in ma- Other objects of the invention will appear to terials, such as mica, commonly used in conthose skilled in the art to which it appertains as densers, increases also as the frequency increases. the description proceeds both by direct recitation This combination of high displacement current thereof and by implication from the context. and increased condenser resistance at the radio Referring to the accompanying drawing, in frequencies produces relatively high heating and which like numerals of reference indicate similar renders the usual commercial condenser unsatisparts throughout the several views: factory in operation. Another defect of the com- Fig. l is elevational section of an electron mercial condenser employing mica as dielectric is discharge device and embodying the present inthe large internal inductance. vention;

Hence it has been found advantageous, accord- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the condenser ing to this invention, to replace the conventional plate assembly of the present invention; and blocking condenser in the anode circuit by a com- Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram and showing the applete capacitor or built-in blocking condenser plication of the device of the present invention within the tube which can withstand the high in an amplifier circuit. voltages, carry the high radio frequency currents In the specific embodiment of the invention without excessive heating, and has a low inillustrated in said drawing, the reference numeral ternal inductance. The electrical conductors of i0 designates an envelope in general of a triode the capacitor are the anode of the tube itself electron discharge device. While a triode has and a condenser plate assembly, insulated from been arbitrarily selected for illustrative purposes, each other by the tube vacuum. Such a conthe invention is not to be understood as restricted denser plate assembly may consist of a set of one to employment with triodes only. Said envelope or more metallic condenser plates joined together ill is here shown as comprising a glass dish H, electrically and pp d rigidly y flllsto- 5 constituting the base, with lead-in posts extendconical support plate, in close proximity to the anode on the vacuum side of the tube, said plate ing therefrom, a cylindrical metallic open-ended container 12, having a dome-like end portion,

u which-also acts-as an anode, and sealing means, in which the present invention inheres more particularly, between the dish and the anode in order that the envelope may be vacuum-tight. Evacuation is obtained by way of tubulation l3 which is sealed off when the desired vacuum is obtained in the device.

Within the envelope i0 and coaxial with the anode I2 is an annular series of filament wires I4 which constitute the cathode. Electrons are emitted from this cathode in use and, as usual, those electrons follow essentially radial straightline paths to the anode. Between the cathode l4 and anode l2, coaxial to both, is a grid l5.comprised of a plurality of equally spaced parallel stays or support rods l6 having a circular grouping coaxial tothe cathode and anode. Peripherally outwardly of the group of stays isa helix of grid wire ll, the several convolutions of which are spaced apart longitudinallyof the stays. of the convolutions contact the stays where they cross and are are welded or otherwise secured thereat to the stays.

Said anode I2 is advantageously made of copper, thereby having the advantage of that metal for ease in shaping the anode and for the high electrical conductivity afforded thereby. The wall of the anode near its open end is uniformly thinned from the outside asuitable distance from said open end. Joined, as by brazing, to the anode wal1 at the shoulder formed by the wall and the thinned portion thereof is an annular collar [8, shown as a metallic ring having an inverted U-shaped cross section. The smaller end of a frusto-bell-shaped sealing ring [9 is located in collar l8 and attached thereto, as by brazing, and is suitably Kovar; Kovar is h the trade name for a metal alloy comprising primarily nickel, cobalt and iron as described in U. S. Patent No. 2,062,335.

A metallic frusto-bell-shaped internal ring shield 19A, of length approximately that of ring I9, is joined as by brazing at its larger end to the inner surface of the anode wall so that the smaller end of said shield [9A is suitably flush with the open end of said anode. Said shield 19A protects the blocking condenser plate and support assembly 2| from electrons emitted by the cathode Hi and from the anode direct current high voltage. total capacitance of the complete capacitor. Said ring [9 flares axially outwardly toward dish Ii and is connected through appropriate vacuumtight seals by a suitable borosilicate glass bulb 20 to the upper surface of the condenser plate and support assembly 2|. In turn, the bottom surface of condenser plate and support assembly 2| is united hermetically with glass dish II by a similar borosilicate glass'bulb 22, thereby completing the means for joining anode l2 and dish H to'retain the desired vacuum.

Said condenser plate and support assembly '2! comprises a metallic 'frusto-conical support 23, preferably Kovar" and two copper condenser plates 24, which in this showing, are parallel cylinders in close proximity to and concentric with the anode E2. The support 23 has a horizontal washer-like mounting flange 25 projecting radially inwardly from the top of said frusto-conical portion and has a horizontal washer-like sealing flange 25 projecting radially outwardly from the bottom of said portion. At the periphery of sealing flange 2-5 a rim 2'! depends below the general under plate of said flange 23. Said mounting flange 25 supports and juxtaposes con- All Further, shield (9A adds to the .denser'plates 24 at opposite sides of the wal1 of anode 12, at its open end, so that in this case, the wall of the anode and sealing ring 19 form, with the two condenser plates 24, the upper and the lower set of electrical conductors respectively of a complete capacitor within the electron discharge device. Said sealing flange 26 is sealed a suitable distance radially inwardly from its peripher-y to glass bulbs 20 and 22, to permit the use of rim 2! as an outwardly projecting connection for coupling the anode and the capacitor to the external circuit, such as a plate-tank circuit as shown in Fig. 3. The dielectric between condenser plates 24 and the wall of anode and sealing ring I9 is the vacuum within the electron discharge device. Sealing ring i3 is suitably insulated from sealing flange 25 of condenser plate and support assembly 2! by bulb 28.

According to my invention, an electron discharge device containing the above-described complete capacitor within said device may be used in a circuit as shown in Fig. 3. A high direct current voltage is connected to the anode i2 through a suitable choke 28. The anode I2,-seal ing ring 19, and internal shield 59A and the condenser plates 24 of condenser plate and support assembly 2! form a built-in complete capacitor or blocking condenser within said device. High voltage insulation between the above mentioned electrical conductors is provided along the envelope by glass bulb 26 between ring l9 and sealing flange 26 and by the vacuum dielectric between anode i2 and ring 19 and condenser plates 24. Said vacuum or the device provides a necessary low loss dielectric medium and consequential relatively low heating in the capacitor when displacement currents flow through saidcomplete capacitor. The rim 2'! of sealing flange 26 provides a short low inductance connection to a plate tank circuit 29 which in turn is connected to ground. An appropriate grid tank circuit 39, with necessary grid leak resistor 3! and grid by-pass condenser 32 drive the grid and complete a conventional shunt fed amplifier circuit. In the .usual manner the cathode I4 is tied electrically to the above mentioned grid tank circuit 3% by means of resistor 3! and condenser 32 and also to ground.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing description that my invention has overcome the defects of the prior art blocking condensers in the anode circuit of an amplifier or oscillator tube. I have provided a complete capacitor or builtin blocking condenser within an electron discharge device which is capable of resisting the high direct current voltages impressed on the anode i2. Said complete capacitor comprises the wall of anode i2, sealin ring It], and shield MA as one set of electrical conductors and condenser plates 2 3 as the other set of electrical conductors separated by the tube vacuum as a dielectric. Due to the low loss vacuum dielectric, said complete capacitor can carry high frequency displacement currents with relatively low heating. The rim 2'8 of sealing flange 28 provides a low inductance electrical connection, extending outwardly from the tube envelope it, to an external circuit. Again glass bulb 26 provides adequate high voltage insulation of condenser plates from sealing ring is and of course in turn from anode i2.

Aithough a preferred embodiment of invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electron discharge device comprising an anode and a built-in blocking condenser, said condenser having said anode as one electrical conductor, a condenser plate within said device in close proximity to said anode as the other elec trical conductor, and a frusto-conical support late within said device for mounting said condenser plate, said support plate having a washerlike mounting flange projecting radially inwardly from the top of said support plate and a washerlike sealing flange projecting radially outwardly from the bottom of said plate through the envelopen of said device.

2. An electron discharge device comprising an anode and a built-in blocking condenser, said condenser having an upper electrical conductor, a lower electrical conductor, and a low loss vacuum of said device as a dielectric, said lower electrical conductor having a condenser plate of electrically conducting metal in close proximity to said anode, said condenser plate joined electrically to and supported rigidly on a horizontal Washer-like mounting flange projecting radially inwardly from the top of a frusto-conical support plate, said support plate having a horizontal washerlike sealing flange projecting radially outwardly from the bottom of said plate through the envelope of said device, said upper electrical conductor comprising said anode.

3. An electron discharge device comprising a hollow cylindrical dome-shape anode of electrically conducting metal, and a built-in blocking condenser, said condenser having an upper electrical conductor, a lower electrical conductor, and a low loss vacuum of said device as a dielectric, said lower electrical conductor having a cylindrical condenser plate of electrically conducting metal concentric with said anode and at opposite sides of the wall of said anode, said condenser plate joined together electrically by and supported rigidly on a horizontal washer-like mounting flange projecting radially inwardly from the top of a frusto-conical support plate, said support plate having a horizontal washer-like sealing flange projecting radially outwardly from the bottom of said plate through the envelope of said device, said upper electrical conductor compris ing the lower portion of the wall of said anode near its open end.

4. An electron discharge device comprising a hollow cylindrical dome-shaped anode of electrically conductin metal, and a built-in blocking condenser, said condenser having an upper set of electrical conductors, a lower set of electrical conductors, and a low-loss vacuum of said device as a dielectric, said lower set of electrical conductors having a plurality of cylindrical condenser plates of electrically conducting metal concentric with said anode, said condenser plates joined together electrically by and supported on a horizontal washer-like mounting flange projecting radially inwardly from the top of a frusto-conical support plate, said support plate having a horizontal washer-like sealing flange projecting radially outwardly from the bottom of said plate through the envelope of said device, said upper set of electrical conductors comprising the lower portion of the wall of said anode near its open end,

a frusto-bell-shaped sealing ring of electrically conducting metal joined at its smaller end to the outer surface of said portion of said wall and projecting at its larger end axially outwardly from said anode, and a frusto-bell-shaped internal ring shield of electrically conducting metal joined at its larger end to the inner surface of said portion of said wall and projecting at its smaller end axially inwardly from said anode.

5. An electron discharge device comprising a hollow cylindrical dome-shape anode of electrically conducting metal, and a built-in blocking condenser, said condenser having an upper set of electrical conductors, a lower set of electrical conductors, and a low loss vacuum of said device as a dielectric, said lower set of electrical conductors having two cylindrical condenser plates of electrically conducting metal concentric with said anode and at opposite sides of the wall of said anode, said condenser plates joined together electrically by and supported rigidly on a horizontal washer-like mounting flange projecting radially inwardly from the top of a frustoconical support plate, said support plate having a horizontal washer-like sealing flange projecting radially outwardly from the bottom of said plate through the envelope of said device, said upper set of electrical conductors comprising the lower portion of the wall of said anode near its open end, a frusto-bell-shaped sealing ring of electrically conducting metal joined at its smaller end to the outer surface of said portion of said Wall and projecting at its larger end axially outwardly from said anode, and a frusto-bell-shaped internal ring shield of electrically conducting metal joined at its larger end to the inner surface of said portion of said wall and projecting at its smaller end axially inwardly from said anode.

6. An electron discharge device comprising a hollow cylindrical dome shape anode of electrically conducting metal, and a built-in blocking condenser, said condenser having an upper set of electrical conductors, a lower set of electrical conductors, and a low loss vacuum of said device as a dielectric, said lower set of electrical conductors having two cylindrical condenser plates of electrically conducting metal concentric with said anode and at opposite sides of the wall of said anode, said condenser plates joined together electrically by and supported rigidly on a horizontal washer-like mounting flange projecting radially inwardly from the top of a frusto-conical support plate, said support plate having a horizontal washer-like sealing flange projecting radially outwardly from the bottom of said plate through the envelope of said devce, said upper set of electrical conductors comprising the lower portion of the wall of said anode near its open end, a frusto-bell-shaped sealing ring of electrically conducting metal joined at its smaller end to said portion of said Wall and projecting at its larger end axially outwardly from said anode, and a frusto-bell-shaped internal ring shield of electrically conducting metal joined at its larger end to the inner surface of said portion of said wall and projecting at its smaller end axially inwardly from said anode said ring having a high voltage insulating glass bulb between the larger end of said ring and said sealing flange.

CARL H. SCULLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,534,077 Stevens Dec. 12, 1950 2,554,877 ONeill et al May 29, 1951 

